Extreme slow syncing & huge backup folder

The problem I'm having is 2-fold: 1. My 3GS syncs extremely slow; approx. 12 hrs.! And 2.: If I check the backup folder in home/library/applicationsupport/MobileSync, it's huge: over 1 Gig. Allthough I have ~ 11 Gigs on the phone, I don't understand this size. Shouldn't it be no more than a couple of megs? If I'm correct, the backup folder only contains info about the apps and other content that's on the phone. The apps are in iTunes/Mobile Applications. I have no explanation for this problem, tried deleting de backup folder and fresh syncing, but to no effect. Can anyone help out? Thanks in advance!

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